Police: Bloody attack part of San Jose surgeon’s plot to disappear with child
WHITEFISH, MONT. » A 55-year-old South Bay surgeon wanted in connection with an attempted murder in Santa Barbara County was arrested in Montana on Wednesday, days after she withdrew nearly $1 million from her bank account, chartered a private jet and tried to kidnap her son during a supervised visit, authorities said.
In a news release, the Santa Barbara Sheriff’s Office said deputies were called to the parking lot of Zodo’s Bowling and Beyond in Goleta about 9:30 a.m. Sunday for a report of a fight. They arrived to find a woman with severe injuries to her head and face.
The victim was at the bowling alley as a contractor providing court-ordered supervision of Theresa Colosi and her 12-year-old son, the Sheriff’s Office said. According to public records, Colosi is a licensed orthopedic surgeon from San Jose.
During the visit, Colosi started to act suspiciously while walking with her son, which caught the victim’s attention, the sheriff’s office said.
“Colosi then swung a metal object at the victim, hitting her in the head several times,” the Sheriff’s Office said.
The victim told the child to run to Zodo’s for help. Colosi started to follow her son, but then ran to her vehicle and drove away, the sheriff’s office said. Bystanders, meanwhile, dialed 911.
Through an investigation, detectives learned Colosi had chartered a private jet that departed Lompoc Airport about 10:50 a.m. Sunday to Glacier International Airport in Montana.
“Detectives also learned that prior to the incident at Zodo’s, Colosi gave away her belongings, withdrew $900,000 from her bank account and chartered the flight with fictitious names for herself, her son and her dog,” the Sheriff’s Office said.
Detectives obtained a Ramey warrant for Colosi’s arrest and worked with their counterparts in Whitefish, Montana, to track her down. The Sheriff’s Office said Colosi was arrested about 5 a.m. Wednesday after she left her suspected hideout and got into a cab.
Colosi is being held without bail at the Flathead County Detention Center and is awaiting extradition to Santa Barbara on charges of attempted murder and attempted kidnapping.